Keeping it consistently good

August 17, 2014

Story By: Christina O Connor | Photos by: Lawrence Tabudlo

Sushi is one of my favorite foods, and most of the time, when I’m craving it, I tend to end up at Genki Sushi. The restaurant offers quick service, and with 13 locations statewide, there is likely to be one close to you. But more than anything, Genki is reliably consistent. You can walk into any establishment and know what to expect — and get the same quality food each time.

Genki Sushi originated in Japan, but as director of purchasing David Moon explains, the Hawaii restaurants feature a mix of Japanese and local flavors.

“We mixed it up to cater to local and American tastes,” Moon says.

ADVERTISEMENT

Consistent but never boring. You can always discover something new at Genki, no matter how many times you visit. Recently, I discovered a dish I had never tried before: Seared Spicy Salmon ($2.80), seared tender and complemented by spicy sauce and garlic mayo.

“The spicy sauce is a mayonnaise-based sauce. It has peppers and sesame seed oil,” Moon explains. “It has been our customers’ favorite for a long time.”

Kitchen supervisor Walter Malterre and server Brian Nguyen

Seared Spicy Salmon ($2.80)

Assorted Vegetable Tempura ($3.80)

Rainbow Roll ($4.80)

The same sauce is utilized in Genki’s flavor-packed Spicy Tuna ($2.80).

“This is one of our most popular dishes at all of our locations,” Moon says.

I often find myself torn between the choice of ahi or salmon. Rainbow Roll ($4.80) solves this dilemma, as it features both, along with avocado and crab mix.

As a nice side to any of these items, Moon recommends Assorted Vegetable Tempura ($3.80), which consists of tempura-battered mushrooms, string beans and pumpkin.

Recently, Genki has renovated both its Ala Moana and Waikele locations to include touch-pad ordering technology, popular in Japan.

“The technology is really good. We are looking to feature it in other locations as well,” Moon says. “We wanted to bring something fresh and new to Hawaii.”

Genki Sushi also is looking into the possibility of revising its menu.